Kalin, Hector & the balloons

Desde el cielo una hermosa mañana….

Since a trip to Mexico in the mid-90s, I have made it a point to attend las mañanitas for the virgin de Guadalupe. I invited Joe to come along (though I had failed to tell him that pick up time was at 4:30 AM) for this very Mexican tradition.

The basilica of Mission Dolores puts on a good celebration. By 4:30 on a rainy morning there was already a crowd outside door. Just before 5:00 am, the procession entered: altar servers, a Knights of Columbus color guard, lectors, deacons, priests, and the bishop. Within a few minutes the church was filled and the faithful stood and lined the side aisles. The altar was decorated with a scene from the narrative and the entire altar was filled with flowers. After the offertory a man dresses as Juan Diego runs up to the bishop, opens up his tilma, and reveals the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, to which the faithful applaud as rose petals fall from the copula. At the end of the mass, the people approach the sanctuary to have the priest bless their flower boquets and images of Guadalupe. They also receive a rose. Afterwards the parish offers tamales, pan dulce, chocolate caliente and ponche (with alcohol if you wish). So by 6:30, people are off to work if they must.

It is a wonderful tradition that I am fortunate to attend.

Ade and the children's book characters

who said jobs were always easy?

My father after some 40 plus years in the US speaks little English. He tells me he suffered in his jobs as he knew little English. He couldn’t communicate very well—sometimes he was misunderstood and sometimes he didn’t understand. He had a family to raise and the luxury of leaving a job was not an option. He feels grateful that the people he worked with were so patient with him.

I have been fortunate to enjoy the jobs I have had and the people with whom I have worked. But that is not always the case with everyone. Many people have jobs they detest, jobs that are extremely stressful, or jobs that require an inordinate amount of hours (or all three). My job as a teacher is not always easy. My job is stressful—studies indicate that urban teachers are second only to police officers in the stress they suffer—but this year has been particularly difficult in addressing the discipline and classroom management at our school. I am trying to expand my repertoire of engaging lessons in a culturally responsive environment to the students I serve, something I have not had issues with in the past. It has been a challenge. I am trying to see this as an opportunity to grow and learn and love and open myself to change—but it is hard when you feel depleted and exhausted.

Silence and Truth

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.

–Mahatma Gandhi.